Background:
The physicians of the MSCA were instrumental in bringing clinical and therapeutic Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research trials to the Atlanta area. As research clinicians and principal investigators, they have participated in more than 30 major clinical trials. Successful clinical research represents the extension of discoveries in the basic science of medicine. Research is the final step toward better disease control and finding the eventual cure.
With 15 years experience in opening and developing a successful clinical research department, Dr. William H. Stuart founded the MS Center of Atlanta Clinical Research Department, in April 2001. In 2004, Dr. Stuart handed over the role of Medical Director to Dr. Jeffrey B. English.
Currently, the clinical research department has four full-time employees who run our clinical trials. We began as a department that specialized in drug trials for Multiple Sclerosis. However, since opening, we have expanded our capabilities to include other major neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, epilepsy, torticollis and spasticity. Areas in which we plan to expand are headache and Parkinson’s Disease.
Understanding Clinical Trials:
For a comprehensive overview of all that is involved in clinical research go to the U.S. government website www.clinicaltrials.gov. This website is a service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At this NIH website, you will find answers to frequently asked questions such as:
What is a clinical trial?
Why participate in a clinical trial?
What happens during a clinical trial?
What should people consider before participating in a trial?
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/faqctgov.html
Research Department Philosophy:
Our research department works with Dr. English and all of our physicians to make sure you understand what will be expected of you and what you can expect from us, if you become our patient. We work for the doctors, not the pharmaceutical companies and it is our goal to provide you responsible, responsive care. Our department strives to provide a “one stop shopping” approach for our patients. In other words, our department schedules research appointments and all MRI’s required for studies. If there are services required by a study that we do not provide, we have several medical offices that collaborate with us to provide these extra services.
All procedures required by a study are paid for by that study’s sponsor. (Sponsors are the pharmaceutical companies or the government entities that fund the studies).
The duration of our studies can run in length anywhere from three months to five years, depending on the study design and objectives. The majority of the clinical trials at our center last two to three years.
Types of Studies Chosen by MSCA
Dr. English chooses studies that we perceive to have both scientific merit and true benefit to our patients. He chooses studies that have new treatment mechanisms or that use different drugs in a new way. For example, of the many oral medications that are under investigation for MS, Dr. English has chosen the ones that he thinks have best chance of becoming a new treatment option. Aside from oral medications, we are also studying new intravenous (IV) therapies, new injection therapies, and several drugs used in combination to treat the same disease.
Dr. English also selects studies that offer hope to families with conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease who, previously, had been afforded few treatment options. Dr. English and our research department strive to fulfill the part of the MS Center’s mission statement that declares we provide “State of the art treatment and research leading to a promising future”.